What can you say about this one other then it’s huge. It’s bigger then huge, probably the biggest game of the season to date…definitely the biggest game of season to date.

Why? Well if you have to ask…

First things first in this post, let’s take a look at the standings since we haven’t here in a while, hopefully why this game is so huge becomes more clear after you see…

Standings 2/22

They say a picture says 1000 words. I’d say this one says about 10,000.

The Rangers sit at only 2 points ahead of Carolina with 1 game in hand. This four point swing game can either make the Rangers four points up on the Hurricanes with a game in hand or leave them tied with the Canes holding that game in hand, leaving the Rangers in 8th place, 4 points ahead of the Sabres who will have 4 games in hand after tonight.

Starting to see the picture here? It’s a huge game.

If the Rangers lose tonight it begins the start of writing themselves out of the playoff picture, it would be a hard thing to come back from. Hopefully Torts knows this, the guys in the locker room know this.

To grab the win tonight we’re going to need to see first half of the season Rangers. Going into enemy territory with that swagger that got them to 17 road wins on the season. They’re going to need that never say die attitude, the attitude that no team could beat them and that they could win on any given night. Not the attitude that has them saying now that a bounce this way or that way and it’s a different game.

You make your own luck.

It’s time for the Rangers to start re-writing the season. Get off the mid-season slide they’re on and get back to winning, and if not atleast winning, getting back to being the team that they’re capable of being.

Go back to outworking the opposition, go back to having that character that set the Rangers up in 6th place in the first place and get it back.

Nothing is given, everything is earned.

To counter Cam Ward, Lundqvist will be back in net tonight, a great move by Tortorella. This is game 7, you go with the guy whose gotten you there. It’s time for Lundqvist to step up and be that guy again for this team. With Gaborik out more of a load falls on Hank’s shoulders, he needs to be ready to carry it.

Eminger remains a healthy scratch as this continues to be one of the biggest mysteries of the season.

Lines:

Brandon Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan

Wojtek Wolski-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello

Vinny Prospal-Erik Christensen-Brian Boyle

Sean Avery-Kris Newbury-Brandon Prust
Personally? Hate them. Think Torts could have spread the wealth a little better, but a lot of the pressure of tonight’s game is going to fall on those top 2 lines.

As fans we’re going to need to expect huge games from the core guys, Dubi – Cally; Staal – Girardi and especially Hank.

If nothing else at all at least this is going to be a fun game to watch, fun in the sense that I’ll have no finger nails or hair after it if it’s a close game.

This is why the season is so long, this is why every point matters. Get back to winning and get back to not having to worry about the scoreboard every night.